Women, power and resistance: Films that explore life under state control

Around the world, women’s lives are often shaped by laws, political upheaval and social restrictions imposed by the state or by systems of authority. Cinema has long captured these realities, telling stories of girls and women who navigate conflict, censorship, war and rigid gender expectations. This Women’s Day, here are seven films that explore how women confront power, assert agency and carve out spaces of freedom in societies where their choices are often constrained.By Asmita Pant  March 8, 2026, 5:10:37 PM IST (Published)3 Min Read1 / 7Offside (2006) | Directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, the film follows several teenage girls who disguise themselves as boys to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match. At the time, women were barred from attending football matches in Iranian stadiums, and the story explores how ordinary acts can become quiet resistance to state rules. (Image: Prime Video)2 / 7Women Without Men (2009) | Directed by Iranian artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat, the film is set during the political turmoil surrounding the 1953 coup d’état in Iran. It follows four women seeking independence from oppressive personal and social circumstances, intertwining their stories with the country’s political upheaval.3 / 7A Separation (2011) | Asghar Farhadi’s Academy Award–winning drama centres on a couple seeking a divorce in Tehran. What begins as a family dispute evolves into a complex legal and moral conflict involving class, religion, and gender expectations, offering a portrait of how women navigate the legal and social structures of Iranian society.4 / 7Wadjda (2012) | Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, the film follows a 10-year-old girl in Riyadh who dreams of owning a bicycle so she can race her friend. Through this simple desire, the story reflects everyday gender expectations in Saudi society and the small acts of determination through which girls challenge them.5 / 7The Breadwinner (2017) | Based on Deborah Ellis’s novel, this animated film is set in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. After her father is arrested, an 11-year-old girl named Parvana disguises herself as a boy to work and support her family, revealing how restrictive laws affect women’s ability to move, work, and survive.6 / 7Mustang (2015) | Set in rural Turkey, Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s film follows five teenage sisters whose guardians impose increasingly strict controls on their lives after rumours about their behaviour spread in the village. The story explores family authority, social expectations, and the ways young women push back against confinement.7 / 7The Swimmers (2022) | Based on the real story of Syrian sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini, the film traces their journey from war-torn Damascus to Europe during the Syrian refugee crisis. Their escape becomes a story of resilience as the sisters survive a dangerous crossing across the Aegean Sea.Continue Reading

Source link